Panda politics, bullfight bans, and Google’s big blunder
Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom.
As you move from discover to explore to discern, the themes go deeper. But any of these stories can work for conversation with the whole family. We’ll also include a Conversation Kickoff to help you break the proverbial ice if your kids aren’t ready to dive deep right away.
This week, we’re noticing a theme of reversal. Look for examples of people, companies, and even whole countries changing course and making different decisions.
Pandas are back.
🧠 What do we need to know about this story?
China is lending two pandas to the San Diego Zoo in California. Previously, China appeared to be pulling its pandas out of American zoos.
❤️️ How does this story affect our understanding?
Look at the theme of diplomacy. Help younger kids define this term. How does China use pandas as a form of diplomacy? What does it mean when China starts taking pandas back from other countries? Notice our theme of reversal. Why would China send pandas to San Diego after a trend of removing them? Does this signal a change in the relationship between the United States and China?
✋ How does this story inspire our actions?
Learn more about China’s panda diplomacy at WORLDkids. Just type “panda” in the search bar—you’ll find a treasure trove of stories!
Bullfight Ban
(Read it at WORLDkids.)
🧠 What do we need to know about this story?
Colombia’s congress voted to ban bullfights. Many Colombians consider this a positive change, but some say it tramples on tradition.
❤️️ How does this story affect our understanding?
Notice again our theme of reversal. Why did Colombia’s lawmakers undo a centuries-old tradition? What makes the bullfighting dangerous, and to whom does it pose danger? Think beyond the obvious answers—not all danger is physical.
What does the Bible say about how we should treat animals? Is it ever right to kill an animal? Explain your answer. Look also for the theme of tradition. Why do some Colombians disagree with the ban? What is the value of tradition? Consider again the theme of reversal. What should we do when traditions contradict ethics? How is reversal like repentance?
✋ How does this story inspire our actions?
Most of Colombia’s traditions aren’t as problematic as
bullfighting! Learn more about Colombia’s culture and traditions. Visit a
library or search online with a grownup’s help and permission.
Conversation Kickoff! What are your favorite traditions? They could be family traditions, church traditions, or traditions in your local community!
Google AI Gets a Makeover
(Read it at WORLDteen.)
🧠 What do we need to know about this story?
Google began including AI suggestions in search results. Some suggestions were flat out wrong. Some were even dangerous. Company officials promise to fix the errors.
❤️️ How does this story affect our understanding?
Look for our theme of reversal. Is Google doing enough to reverse its mistakes? Could AI really provide reliable advice with enough debugging? Think about information. Where do you look for information? How do you verify the information you find? Where does Google’s AI get its information? What causes it to give faulty answers—and what do those faulty answers say about us?
✋ How does this story inspire our actions?
With a grownup’s permission, try asking AI some tough questions. You can use the free version of ChatGPT. Notice which questions it answers well and which questions it answers poorly.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. — Ephesians 2:4-6
Together, let’s get the conversation started. He has equipped you for the work.
